eschatology, The Last Battle (Rev.20:7-10)

We have already seen scripture which describes the Millennium.  We know that only believers will enter the Millennial kingdom;  but these people will have many children, and those children will have many children, and so on.  All people born into this age will have a choice to make, whether to believe in Jesus or not.

At the end of the thousand years, Satan and his demons will be released.  Immediately, they will go throughout the world to deceive those who have NOT chosen to become believers.  Apparently, even under the near perfect conditions, and with everyone being obedient to Jesus and experiencing success in life, there will be many people who will still want to do things their own way, and will jump on board with Satan to challenge God.

But the Last Battle will be even shorter than the battle of Armageddon...

(Revelation 20:7-9)  When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 

And just like the Antichrist and the false prophet, Satan and his demons are thrown into hell, since the demons have already made their choice, and have been judged for all eternity, there is no need for further judgment...

(Revelation 20:10)  And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Today's takeaway:  Adam and Eve DID have perfect conditions and chose to disobey God.  Since then, we've been given God's word (the Bible), which contains the Truth.  And God does not hold back on that.  He doesn't sugarcoat the sins of His chosen ones, or the sins of the people who did choose to believe in Him.  He loves us so much, He tells us all the facts of the issue, He gives us the solution, and He gives us the values of the solution!

Even though we have this timeless book, the Bible, which cannot be refuted, even by the smartest men on earth (and many have tried) - people still rely on their own wisdom.  And they turn to things like our history books - which ARE subjective!  We have no idea just how truthful those "facts" really are. 

While in Budapest, Hungary, my husband and I got a chance to tour the House of Terror museum.  Besides the amazing testimonies of what many people experienced, we saw a huge collection of communist propaganda films and news articles.  WOW!!!  The lies which were used to control the people!.

And now with the internet, and the technological capabilities to take a few image and sound bytes and create a digital recording of someone saying - anything - without that person's knowledge or control.  Whatever is reported should be suspect.  But we STILL think we are able to learn from history in order to better our ways and build a better society... without God!!!

Over the last few decades, school science books have begun to say that evolution is fact.  This is still a theory, and a bad one at that.  More and more, there is evidence against it.  More and more, there is evidence to support the Bible and creationism.  Yet, people would still like to believe that they come from an accident - and that there is no purpose or worth - except what we ourselves are able to create for ourselves.  And then we wonder why there are so many people struggling with depression and anxiety.

The issue is sin!  The solution is salvation through Jesus who provides forgiveness for sins!  And the value is eternal life, purpose, and God's love, joy, peace, wisdom, strength, etc!

Solomon was the wisest man on earth.  And the richest.  He had the means to search out the earth for purpose and happiness.  He tried everything!  EVERYTHING!!!  Power, riches, women, other religions, partying, knowledge, doing good things... and found that everything under the sun was vanity!  WORTHLESS!!!  And so, his conclusion was to look "above the sun"...

(Ecclesiastes 12:1)  Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”...

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)  In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

(Romans 3:10)  as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one..

(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

(Ephesians 2:1-10)  And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

eschatology, The Millennium Reign (Rev.20:4, 6)

In today's portion of scripture, we find a little description of the Millennium about how all believers with glorified bodies will help reign with Jesus for the thousand years.

In the very first line of verse 4, we are not quite sure who "they" are;  but using all of scripture (to put this into complete context) - and especially because of Revelation 19:14 - I am fairly certain that these will be all the believers who were raptured and given glorified bodies.

Some speculate that these might be the representatives of the 12 tribes of Israel (from the 144,000 who were sealed).  Some even speculate that these are the 12 disciples.  Some think that they might only be the martyred saints of the Tribulation because of what the rest of verse 4 says...

Whoever "they" are, these will be given the authority to assist in judging those on earth...

(Revelation 20:4a)  Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them... 

Why I believe that the above "they" group does not include the martyred believers from the Tribulation is because: 1)  Revelation 15:2 has this group of people distinctly set apart... kind of like how when all believers up until the rapture pass away and are considered "asleep in Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:6, and 1 Thessalonians 4:14);  and 2) the next verse begins with "And"...

So now we have a very clear description of those believers who will have died during the Tribulation.  They will be resurrected and will also reign with Christ during this time...

(Revelation 20:4b)  ...And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The next verse mentions something that I always have had a little difficulty in completely understanding.  This is regarding all of the resurrections mentioned throughout the Bible.  But I may have just had an ah-ha moment.  I shared my thoughts with my husband - who is right now studying the book of Daniel where it talks about all the different times of resurrections. And then we see scripture in other books of the Bible which talk about the first and second resurrection.  Now - this is what I understand and makes complete sense to me!

There will be several periods of time when believers will be resurrected.  These are ALL considered to be part of the "first resurrection" - which is the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection).  The "second resurrection" is when all unbelievers of all times are brought before the White Throne Judgment.

Therefore - all believers will be part of that "first resurrection" - but those believers up until that point in time who have gone to heaven and will have been given glorified bodies - these will reign with Christ during the Millennium...

(Revelation 20:6)  Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Today's takeaway:  I am always amazed at how God gives us such great purpose and uses us to serve - even now in our imperfect state!  We can just read through the Old Testament and see many examples of this.  Or consider Apostle Paul, who before his conversion, was persecuting the Church;  and then even after his conversion he mentions in Romans 7 how he struggles to to do the things he should and not do the things he shouldn't.

As Christian leaders, we can struggle to delegate and trust other believers, and if and when someone makes a mistake - that is it - they are out and never to be trusted ever again - - - THEN we can realize and appreciate just how patient and gracious God is towards us in allowing us to serve...

(Ephesians 4:30-32)  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

(1 Peter 4:10-11)  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(Mark 10:43-45)  But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

(Romans 15:1-7)  Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

(Philippians 2:1-13)  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

eschatology: Second Coming & Armageddon (Rev.19:17-20:3)

The scriptures below describe the Second Coming of Christ!  And all believers (who have already gone to heaven and given glorified bodies) will be following Him - riding on white horses!  This could include angels, but it this isn't really mentioned here...

(Revelation 19:11:16)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

At the battle of Armageddon, a huge angel will call for all birds and animals of prey, because the carnage will be that great...

(Revelation 19:17-18)  Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

I'm sure Hollywood could find inspiration from this scene, although they would probably draw out the length of the battle.  But in actuality, the justice will be swift.  The great army will be assembled to wage war against Jesus.  Jesus will speak!  And the beast and false prophet will be immediately thrown into hell!  And the unbelievers will be killed!...

(Revelation 19:19-21)  And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.  20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Then Satan will be bound for a thousand years so that he cannot influence the nations until the very end of the Millennium...

(Revelation 20:1-3)  Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

Today's takeaway:  I am in complete awe of the power of God's words!...

(Psalm 33:6)  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.

(John 1:1-5, 14)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it...

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

(Psalm 119:105)  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

(1 Peter 1:22-23)  Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

(Deuteronomy 8:3)  He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13)  For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

(Hebrews 4:12)  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

(2 Timothy 3:16)  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.